HARDWARES

Heavy, proggy and legendary in the ‘70s, Atomic Rooster broke up after ‘73’s Nice ‘n’ Greasy, only to reform in ’80 for this overlooked and rare record worthy of the back catalogue’s stature. The album curiously drew energy from both the NWOBHM and the preceding punk boom, most weirdly, Damned in gothic mode. The lineup was valid, featuring John Du Cann on guitars and of course Vincent Crane, along with Kate Bush drummer Preston Heyman. Atomic Rooster is an upbeat but quite heavy affair, looped like Hawkwind, snarled (like early Boomtown Rats, oddly), old school and doomy like the band’s signature track ‘Death Walks Behind You’, Heepy due to Crane’s Hammond C3. Incredibly, this is the first time this album has seen CD issue, and Angel Air have added helpful, intelligent liners from Joe Geesin, along with some photos and two bonus tracks. A last album called Headline News barely counts as an official album for various reasons. Crane would commit suicide in ’89 after years of battling depression.